Critic Reviews

Sometimes you have to be reminded of your roots to realize that there is more to games than just flashy explosions and blood soaked chainsaws. I highly recommend getting this title the next time you have the chance. I seriously doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Nights: Journey of Dreams delivers a second dose of the classic, 2D meets 3D gameplay that made the original Nights a success. It has its share of flaws – the lack of innovation is surprising, and the motion controls are the worst of the bunch. But as a whole, Journey of Dreams is a great adventure that will take you to a world you won’t want to leave.

That’s not to say it’s the game that all NiGHTS fans would have hoped for. The levels that remain true to the original NiGHTS game-play are very enjoyable and some of the boss fights are both challenging and original. Some of the level design is impressive too which helps to make the experience all the more enjoyable. However, there are negatives and it’s annoying having to go back and complete objectives after losing a boss fight. Having to redo the boss fight would have been sufficient instead of forcing you to backtrack so far. The on-foot levels where you control Will and Helen and are rather tedious and feel completely out of place. It’s also a shame that the default control system doesn’t actually work that well and most will prefer to use one of the alternative control systems. On the whole though NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is enjoyable and does just enough to satisfy those who have waited so long for a sequel.

Journey of Dreams isn’t for everyone and some will likely wonder what all the fuss was about. However, fans of the original will find plenty to adore here as Sonic Team has faithfully revived the franchise and given it just enough to make it feel new and fresh. While the motion controls are the game’s biggest hindrance Sega was still wise to release this game on the Wii simply because it fits in well with the console’s library. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is a fantastic sequel that will have fans clamoring for more, now let’s hope Sega doesn’t wait another decade before bringing back everyone’s favorite jester.

Overall, NiGHTS is not a bad game. Flying around is still as fun as it was the first time around on the Sega Saturn, though this time it is more because of the quality of world design as opposed to the tight controls of the last edition of this game. This game does deserve a shot, if only to see the excellent world that Sonic Team has put together here -- very rarely is world design pulled off this well. Sonic Team, take note -- if there is a second NiGHTS game on the Wii, or some future system, please tighten up the controls. Also, make sure the non-flight levels are more fun to play. Do that, and the game will be much better. As it stands, NiGHTS is an overall average effort from Sonic Team.

Journey of Dreams is not a difficult game, though it does have its challenging moments, particularly within some of the more esoteric boss battles. It also has a number of minor issues. Most cutscenes are unskippable; if you continue the first dream level to the boss but lose, you can't start at the boss--you have to repeat the whole thing from the beginning. And so on and so forth. Yet despite these issues and other minor quirks that will have purists up in arms (Where's Jackle? Why was the giant alarm clock replaced with awakers?), NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is a good, enjoyable romp through a clever collection of beautiful worlds. Playing it makes you feel warm and cozy, a nice treat indeed for the holiday season.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is a quite solid title that will fill some homes with joy. However, one should know where to draw the line that defines their own taste. I find this title more attractive for families and young crowds, rather than full-fledged gamers who are over seventeen years old. The game is not very long though, and it brings to the Wii a fantasy worth living; if you can get past the "unskippable" cutscenes, are tolerant with childish-looking games, and enjoy platforming of the Sonic-kind, you should enjoy this adventure.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams doesn't get the attention of Super Mario Galaxy, whose release clearly obliterated any chance of it being the holiday hit of 2007. But this is still a game that's well worth experiencing. The multiplayer options will extend the life farther than the short single player mode, in particular the race mode. Exploring the Dreams of other players over WiFi connect, on the other hand, isn't quite as much fun. But most importantly, taking flight as the NiGHTS character is once again an engaging gameplay experience. If you have the chance to give this a rental, you'll likely feel well rewarded. The superb soundtrack will please your ears even more than the visuals will delight your eyes.

NiGHTS has finally arrived and like an episode of LOST we're left with more questions rather than answers, there are elements of originality here that cannot be ignored but because of an overwhelming inconsistent feeling it isn't anything like as special as it could, or should, have been. NiGHTS fans I'm sure will be content for now, but will no doubt demand another dose with the flaws removed, please SEGA, make this right.

The longevity of the game is increased by the inclusion of Multiplayer, which can be played locally, online with a friend or online with a random challenger. There’s battle mode which can be played locally, while Speed mode can be played by any of the above three. We did find it hard to connect to players on occasion, but on the whole the online experience was favourable. That’s about all that can be said about NiGHTS without playing it yourself. The levels are short and sweet, the graphics colourful but textures (visually) are often a bit bland and the soundtrack is satisfying. If you’ve been waiting for a sequel to NiGHTS since its release then you’ll need to buy it on the Wii. If you’ve never even heard of NiGHTS it may as well stay that way. It’s a game for the fans, by fans. It’s a worthy homage to the original game but just lacks that fresh spark.

Flying through the final level is a joy and a triumph, and it finally helped me make up my mind that I liked the game enough to deal with its issues. The scenery and music are fantastic, and the way all the level items interact with each other makes it a blast to play through. Then Wizeman hands you your head on a platter and you get to do it again, over and over until you figure out the trick to defeating him. Adding insult to injury, NiGHTS finally breaks out unskippable cut-scenes that, while not very long, completely wear out what little charm they have by the fourth viewing. The final level, which should have been the deciding factor in a game constantly wobbling between pretty fun and mildly aggravating, became tarnished by the drudgework of forced repetition. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams still ends up being a decent game, but it should have been so much better.

Your average Call of Duty 4 player will find little here, but for fans of the original, or just fans of classic gaming, will enjoy the trip down memory lane to a time where skill and scores where far more important than assault rifles. At times, there are parts of Nights: Journey of Dreams that are at odds with everything great about the original, but the gameplay alone ensures that although they have soured the experience, it hasn’t been completely ruined.

Providing you can overlook a few of the aforementioned quirks, and providing you're not so cynical that a big-hearted game can't win you over, there's a lot to like here. A short run-time and some middling levels used to pad out each of Nightopia's dream environments probably did the most to wear down my goodwill toward it, but there was nothing fatally dispiriting about the experience and ultimately it has more to fuel the player's affection than not, like skyscrapers bursting into balloons. More of that, game developers. Indeed, if SEGA can adopt the principles employed here to reinvigorate a few of its other declining character-driven properties, it won't just be the publisher's increasingly savvy acquisitions and collaborations that drive strength back into its portfolio, it will be the very things that made it such a celebrated name in the first place. A good game, and definitely worth considering.

Nights: Journey of Dreams draws much from Nights Into Dreams, and sometimes it reaches too far back. But even though it takes some concentration to build adequate flying skills, when you finally do ultimately Nights becomes a rewarding contest. You soar and glide through a unique aerial dreamscape which remains impressive in its scope and vision. This second coming of Nights is a worthwhile journey even if it isn’t a dream come true.

For serious Nights fans, Journey offers a bittersweet reunion that reminds us of what was so singularly special about Sega's airborne dreamweaver. Unfortunately, attempting to evolve the formula creates a host of new problems and issues that ultimately diminish the game's overall appeal. That said, this still represents one of the finest original third-party games available for Wii, and younger players will find a lot to love in this gameplay-rich adventure.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is by no means a total loss and deserves a flutter, just don’t get too carried away especially if you want a nostalgia trip. At least an opening may have been created to see yet more titles in the series appear far sooner than the previous wait, but I had hoped for a lot more in this current title. Oh well maybe next time.

What we do have however are a couple of good solid workable control schemes. Something that is reflected in the game itself, which no-one can argue is not good, solid and highly playable. However, as the game's name reminds us, we had such high hopes for this release. In fact, playing the game itself is something of a case study in what high expectations we have for the Wii itself. Here again we find a third-party suffering next to the high bar set by Nintendo with the likes of Wii Sports - a game that no doubt had a much larger budget and longer gestation. At least in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams we have a passable distraction until the day comes when we find out what exactly the Wii is capable of.

Fans have been holding their breath for this sequel for 11 years, yet Sega answered their dreams with a game that feels like a Sega Saturn expansion. Only approach this game if you still love playing the original, otherwise your fond memories of this series will likely be tarnished.

Now that the series is alive again, we're anxious to see a sequel that catches Nights back up to speed. It's obvious that SEGA wanted to go big with the return of franchise, as the scope of the game has been opened tremendously. With some polish, a more focused design, and some refined flight control we could see Nights making a true return. It'll need a pretty sizeable overhaul from what Wii gamers are getting with Journey of Dreams though, which ends up appealing only to the most die-hard (and extremely forgiving) of its original fan base.

Of course, such things alone can’t save this game. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams isn’t a bad title, but there just aren’t enough positive aspects for it to deserve its hefty price tag. The wide variety of simplistic (and somewhat clunky) control schemes ensures that anyone can pick up the game. While there are two story modes, they are both utterly brief and unsatisfying. The aerial missions are incredibly well crafted and a blast to play, but there are nowhere near enough of them to make up for all the crappy filler missions you’ll have to endure. The tedious, unavoidable cutscenes and one-dimensional characters add little to the experience, regardless of the flashy graphics and vivid presentation. The online gameplay is surprisingly well done, even if it is limited to a handful of options. Thus NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is not a horrible title, but it could have been so much more.

Sure, you can replay stages to up your ranking, tool around in a gussied up bestiary, or compete in two-player races and battles - none of which are all that appealing. But if you're absolutely crazy about Nights, the core mechanics emulate the original well and should at least satisfy dreams of nostalgia.

Speaking strictly from a design standpoint, NiGHTS is exemplary of how not to make a game. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams grows on you though, if only because of its charm, character, and addictiveness. Toiling through the story mode the first time can be painful, but once that's over and done with, NiGHTS' strengths shine, putting it right in line with the best the Wii has to offer.

There is really little to recommend NiGHTs: Journey of Dreams to gamers. It's unbelievably short, not very fun, and quite unpleasant on the eyes. The potentially fun online play and solid soundtrack manage to save NiGHTs from total failure, but even these elements can't do much to improve the overall experience. While there are a few shining moments of quality to be found within NiGHTs, they are buried beneath an avalanche of mediocrity. It would be difficult to recommend NiGHTs: Journey of Dreams even at a budget price, but at the full $50, one would be better off passing on the game.

This is one of those times where the score is higher than I feel a game deserves. If it wasn’t for the graphics and orchestral score, this game would be down in the crapper and I’d being giving it a massive thumbs down. However, Nights really is the prettiest game of the year, and as there are a lot of gamers that sadly put graphics before gameplay, and for that grouping, it’ll be worth checking out. At this point the only Sega game in 2008 I’m even considering soling current systems with is the HOTD 2 & 3 pack for the Wii, and that’s only because they are pre-Sammy games. This is one of those times where I really implore you to read the review rather than the end score.

If this game is supposed to be better than the original, I don't understand why people praise it so much. I'll just go with the idea that the predecessor was just better and rather the superlative of what we get to see here on the Wii. Average to bad graphics, monotone soundtrack and repetitive gameplay (except for some bossfights). And then we're not even talking about the bad controls that make things even worse. For me this is the kind of game that will never leave the closet again.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is only a recommended purchase for longtime fans of the series who already know what they're getting into. Even those people may want to first consider a rental. Control issues and lackluster visuals are the least of the troubles here when compared to the plodding, unchangeable pace of the story and the unforgiving save feature. Too difficult for children and too frustrating for adults, what could have been a dream come true for fans of Sega's flying purple sprite instead devolves into the stuff of nightmares.

The musical score offers a gentle, dreamy theme that blends well with the action on the screen. The game's design and user interface could have used some fine-tuning. It took me a while to realize the little book on the corner of the screen indicated my game was being saved. Would displaying the word "saving" have been too hard? Likewise, the obscure objectives and sometimes hard-to-read screen indicators make you wonder if Sega fired their entire Quality Assurance department. And you might as well forget about the headache-inducing two-player mode. After about 15 seconds, my friends exclaimed "Ugh! Turn this [expletive] thing off!" Not only does Journey Into Dreams fail to live up to expectations, but it calls into question the viability of the franchise as a whole.